"Come, Leila," Charlotte said, matter of fact, slipping her arm through mine as we walked away, as if we were old friends. "Are you all right?"

I nodded, as my heart steadied, wondering if I could trust her. "What are you doing here, Charlotte?"

"Believe it or not, I just so happened to be in the neighborhood," she said with a sly smile. The sounds of the two men screaming in the alley behind us rushed to my ears, but Charlotte paid no attention.

I nodded as we ...